Stephen Robinson will embrace increased expectations at St Mirren as the Buddies look to clinch successive top-six finishes for the first time in 39 years against Hearts on Saturday.

With two games remaining before the split, the Paisley outfit are fifth in the cinch Premiership, four points ahead of Dundee who have played a game less, and they hold a five-point advantage over Hibernian in seventh.

Saints finished sixth in the top flight in 1984 and fifth in 1985 and ahead of the home game against the third-placed Jambos, Robinson considered the prospect of equalling that achievement.

The Northern Irishman said: “It is a game we very much believe we can take something from and obviously guarantee the top six.

“Expectations have risen massively here but if you look at the history, we haven’t had consecutive top-six finishes for 39 years so that tells you that it hasn’t been a habit, it hasn’t been something that should be expected but it is credit to this group of players and staff that we have got ourselves into this position to raise the expectations so we have to embrace that.

“At St Mirren you can’t expect to be top-six every year but what you have to try and do in these good periods is try to put the foundations in to give yourself more of an opportunity to be a top-six side.

“If we can be a top-six side three out of five times then that is a huge success but we want to put the building blocks and foundations in and that becomes more of a norm.

“We don’t go into it with any fear, we go with a lot of respect and it is something we are going to enjoy.

“We are looking forward to it, can’t wait. There will be a big crowd, windy conditions, not great weather but the crowd will turn up and back us again.

“In our eyes we have earned the right to be there.”

Meanwhile, Caolan Boyd-Munce has triggered an appearance-based clause to extend his contract until summer 2025.

The 24-year-old midfielder joined the club in March 2023 following the expiry of his contract at Middlesbrough, signing a one-year deal with a further year’s appearance-based option.

Boyd-Munce has started 20 matches in the cinch Premiership this season among his 36 appearances in all competitions this term and his form saw him called up to the Northern Ireland squad during the recent international break.

Speaking to stmirren.com, he said: “I’m over the moon that it’s finally done.

“We’ve been talking about it for a while and even if the clause hadn’t been triggered I think we would have still come to a similar arrangement.

“I’ve loved it. It’s been a good season for all of us. I think I’ve improved massively and hopefully everyone can see that this season. Every month I feel like I’ve got better and still think I’ve got a long way to go.”

Robinson said: “Caolan was a young boy that came in with not a lot of games but huge talent.

“I’ve known him since he was 15 so I’ve seen him progress. He’s become pivotal in what we do.

“Eventually he’ll get that first Northern Ireland cap in the summer I’m sure and he’s certainly earned that.”